The purpose of this project is to identify a method to cost-effectively utilize manure and other abundant agricultural wastes to produce useful energy. A fuel made from this resource has the potential to reduce farmers' waste disposal and energy expenses, mitigate negative environmental impacts caused by excessive and inappropriately stored manure, and improve the economic viability of farm operations. This research project designed, produced and tested several samples of "straw-pooh" fuel briquettes that could be co-fired with coal in utility-scale power plants, burned on site to produce heat and power for agricultural operations, or used in a medium-scale application, such as district heating (to provide heat to one or more large buildings or structures).
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 appropriated money to the Department of Energy (DOE) to utilize the funding to encourage the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) was a state agency responsible for utilizing and distributing ARRA funds in Colorado. The main purpose of this Project was to evaluate the gross and net impact energy savings associated with three ARRA funding streams: the State Energy Programs grant (SEP), the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP), and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
This report develops a framework for organizing risk-based decisions about design, maintenance, and operation for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) applying to various types of facilities. It also provides illustrative examples for the use of the proposed framework. CDOT has an opportunity to be a national leader in assessing risks, vulnerabilities, consequences and outcomes through the implementation of a risk-based framework for facility design, operations and maintenance.
